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The Dengler Domain: One Town, One School

North Tama, BCLUW, and IKM-Manning have a common thread. They are a collective of little towns spread out across farmland coming together as a school. These directional and anagram schools will appear more often as school districts combine due to lack of funding. While a tough process to gut through, these school districts are formations of a bygone era.

This bygone era is little towns having their own school. Such as Clutier, Dinsdale, and other like size towns, existed as standalone schools. Living in this era would be unique. A benefit is the pride existing throughout the town. Towns with schools held events for the public to attend which brought forth pride. While this exists in today’s society, schools are products of town proximities. A lack of small town pride is apparent.

A school adds character to a town with the molding of young minds. The growth of in education of children’s minds grows a town’s culture. Schools add a special flavor to the town’s stew. In academic competitions and athletics, representing what the town stood for resonates for youngsters in the school. Nothing better exists than boasting after beating another town in academic competitions and athletics.

This leads to the next benefit of little town schools is friendly rivalries with other towns. Each school had a natural rival down the highway. Losing to Dysart was not optional for Traer as much losing to Traer was not optional for Traer. With the closeness of towns, people knew each other. Beating an old friend in competition is an enjoyment. Rivalries are harder to create today because former rivals have joined together. School districts are farther away from each other so the proximity of a rival is harder.

The next benefit is schools located in a small town meant closeness between students. Students were not mixed up in the masses of a huge student body. Each student could feel as being part of something more and not a number. Parents of students knew each other, and this communal feel caused the school to thrive. Whether it is good or bad with everybody knowing each other, these small town schools served as a special connection for everybody in the community.

While fiscally irresponsible, I would have loved being a part of a small town school. The uniqueness of one town, one school adds beautiful character. The connective tissue a student gains from being close with a small town school is better than a student can feel going to a large school. This tissue makes a great pride for a student of coming from a small town. With this great pride, comes amazing accomplishments such as the underdog, small town school beating a heavily favored, larger town school.

Email Sean with your thoughts and ideas for future columns at: sean.h.dengler@gmail.com

The Dengler Domain: One Town, One School

North Tama, BCLUW, and IKM-Manning have a common thread. They are a collective of little towns spread out across farmland coming together as a school. These directional and anagram schools will appear more often as school districts combine due to lack of funding. While a tough process to gut through, these school districts are formations of a bygone era.

This bygone era is little towns having their own school. Such as Clutier, Dinsdale, and other like size towns, existed as standalone schools. Living in this era would be unique. A benefit is the pride existing throughout the town. Towns with schools held events for the public to attend which brought forth pride. While this exists in today’s society, schools are products of town proximities. A lack of small town pride is apparent.

A school adds character to a town with the molding of young minds. The growth of in education of children’s minds grows a town’s culture. Schools add a special flavor to the town’s stew. In academic competitions and athletics, representing what the town stood for resonates for youngsters in the school. Nothing better exists than boasting after beating another town in academic competitions and athletics.

This leads to the next benefit of little town schools is friendly rivalries with other towns. Each school had a natural rival down the highway. Losing to Dysart was not optional for Traer as much losing to Traer was not optional for Traer. With the closeness of towns, people knew each other. Beating an old friend in competition is an enjoyment. Rivalries are harder to create today because former rivals have joined together. School districts are farther away from each other so the proximity of a rival is harder.

The next benefit is schools located in a small town meant closeness between students. Students were not mixed up in the masses of a huge student body. Each student could feel as being part of something more and not a number. Parents of students knew each other, and this communal feel caused the school to thrive. Whether it is good or bad with everybody knowing each other, these small town schools served as a special connection for everybody in the community.

While fiscally irresponsible, I would have loved being a part of a small town school. The uniqueness of one town, one school adds beautiful character. The connective tissue a student gains from being close with a small town school is better than a student can feel going to a large school. This tissue makes a great pride for a student of coming from a small town. With this great pride, comes amazing accomplishments such as the underdog, small town school beating a heavily favored, larger town school.

Email Sean with your thoughts and ideas for future columns at: sean.h.dengler@gmail.com